The UK’s LGBTQ+ rights are slipping; here’s why visible, authentic allyship from companies matters more than ever, as Matt Horwood, director of communications at Open for Business, explains.
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In the last five years*, hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation have risen 22 per cent. For anti-trans hate crimes, that number grows to 70 per cent.

Despite long-fought progress toward equality in law and society, the safety of LGBTQ+ people in the UK has seen mounting threats in recent times. This year, the UK dropped six places in the ILGA Europe Rainbow Map, placing us at #22, our lowest ever ranking. Ten years ago, we ranked at the top of that list. Today, conversion therapy remains legal, inclusive RSE faces fresh attacks, and the dignity, respect, and human rights of trans people continue to be ‘debated’ on a daily basis.

In what feels like behaviour that should be long out of style, LGBTQ+ people still regularly find ourselves used as scapegoats, political footballs, or the punch lines of rubbish jokes. And as the worst and loudest culprits of this behaviour are gifted bigger platforms and extended airtime, what we might have previously called ‘quiet bigots’ are now more emboldened than ever before.

So emboldened, in fact, that some of the most violent anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes in recent years have happened during Pride events. I can vouch for this with personal experience, as the two most physical hate crimes I've faced as an adult took place on my way home from LGBTQ+ festival Mighty Hoopla and a Trans+ Pride march in London.

I believe that allyship is as important now as it ever has been. Not just from individuals, but also from companies, who often provide gravitas and influence absolutely essential to our fight for safety and equal rights.

We’ve seen it work before. For example in the 90s, during an incredibly challenging climate for LGBTQ+ people in the UK, brands like Absolut, Ben & Jerry’s, and IKEA’s allyship stood in stark contrast to the vitriolic discourse that political ‘leaders’ and much of the media leveled at us. This wasn't what won us the milestones reached to date - of course, this was led by LGBTQ+ and allied activists and campaigners on the ground - but it was still an important part of the wider driving force.

Of course, 2025 is not the 90s, and our understanding of allyship has matured. We have frank and ongoing discussions on what real and authentic support looks like, and understandably this leaves some people sceptical of corporate involvement in the movement.

But I’ve heard first-hand, while working for numerous organisations in the LGBTQ+ sector, the sort of difference visible support from brands and businesses can make. For example, Pride flags in a rural branch of a major supermarket helping facilitate the ‘coming out’ conversation between a teenager and their grandparents. Or a trans person feeling safer to be themselves at work after seeing their employer’s active engagement in Pride. At a time where many LGBTQ+ people are feeling more anxious or ostracised than ever before, these visible signs and statements could make a big difference to someone. And they send a clear message to those who are trying to make our lives less liveable, safe, and joyful.

*Based on most recent ONS figures (2023-2024)

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